Sliding back for corsets



March 12, 1940. COHEN 2,193,551

SLIDING BACK FOR CORSETS Filed July 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR F .J]. H

ATTORNEY March 12, 1940. F. A. COHEN SLIDING BACK FOR CORSET-S Fild July 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1' r Z c E rd C en -17. BY

( :ATTOR NEY Patented Ma. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to new and'useful improvements in a sliding back corset, foundation garment or the like.

The invention proposes the construction of a sliding back corset or foundation garment characterized by the provision of an upper section and a lower section adapted to be connected together to form a single unit, which are movable with relation to each other to compensate for the movements of the body such as sitting, stooping, standing, etc.

Still further it is proposed to construct the sections in such a manner that the bottom edge of the upper section will extend downwards over the top edge of the lower section so as to completely encase the body.

A further object of this invention is the provision of bottom metallic stays mounted within pockets formed on the lower section and top metallic stays mounted within pockets formed on the upper section.

Still further it is proposed to provide a means for telescopically connecting the top and bottom stays together in a manner to be extendable longitudinally of the garment and to provide a means for resiliently urging the sections of the garment back to their normal position after having been extended.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a means for latching the metallic stays together in various extended positions for controlling the length of the garment to suit individual needs.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a sliding back corset constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l with a portion of the upper section of the garment folded back. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of elastic strap per se.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionalview on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2. 1

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the metallic Q stays per se.

Fig. 10 is a sectional of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a rear elevational view of a foundation garment constructed in accordance with this invention and turned inside out.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to a. portion of Fig. 11 with the elastic strip removed therefrom.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view similar to a portion of Fig. 12 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a view looking in the direction of the line l4-l4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line l5l5 of Fig. 1. so

Fig. 16 is a rear elevational view of the lower arment section.

Fig. 17 is a rear elevational view of the upper garment section.

The sliding back corset, according to this invention, comprises a garment having an upper section [0 and a lower section II. The upper section is normally adapted to encase the upper portion of the body and is so constructed that its bottom edge overlaps the top edge of the lower section H. Shoulder straps 12 having elastic portions l2 have one of their ends attached to the front top edge of the upper section l0 and the other of their ends attached to the back top edge of the upper section I 0 for extending over the shoulders for assisting in properly positioning the upper section upon ones body.

The lower section ll is constructed substantially throughout its entire circumference of nonelastic' material H and is provided at its sides with elastic inserts Il and at the bottom, in the front thereof, with an elastic insert II for permitting: the garment to stretch slightly along the width thereof to permit the wearer to sit down comfortably. One side of the front of the lower section II is formed with an opening 13 which is adapted to be closed by a slide fastener 14 for permitting the upper section of the lower section to be opened to permit the garment to be positioned upon the body. The bottom edge view on the line l0l0 of the lower section I! is formed with hosiery supports l5 of conventional construction.

The upper section II) is open along one side, One of the edges of the open side is provided with given a plurality of hooks l6 which are adapted to be engaged by complementary hooks l1 mount ed upon the other edge of the open side for permitting the garment to be closed when positioned upon ones body.

Bottom stays l8 are mounted within pockets formed vertically in spaced positions preferably upon the back or front and back of the lower section I. The pockets are formed by strips of material |9 extending along the length of the lower section II and maintained in position by means of stitches 20. The bottom stays I8 are held in position within the top portion of the pockets, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of headed members 2| mounted nearthe top end of the stays l8 and projecting through openings formed in the front of the lower section II.

Top stays 22 are mounted within pockets formed in the upper section l0. Each of the top stays 22 is formed with an elongated slot 23 and through which the head member 2| is adapted to be passed with the head thereof extending longitudinally at right angles to the slot 23 for telescopically connecting the top and bottom stays together to be extendable longitudinally thereof. The heads may be disengaged from the slots by distorting the fabric of the garment to turn the heads so that the widest part thereof extends parallel with the slots.

The front and rear portions of the upper section H) are formed of double layer material and the top stays 22 are inserted between the layers, and the material of the inner layer 24 adjacent the slots 23 are passed therethrough and extended to the sides of the upper stay 23, as shown in Fig. 'L'to permit the slot 23 to be viewable from the inside of the upper section l0, as shown in Fig. 3. Stitches 25 are passed through the layers of material forming the front and rear portions of the upper section I0. These stitches 25 are extended vertically along both sides of the stay 22 for forming the pockets within which these stays are mounted.

Both ends of the top and bottom stays are a heavy coat of paint for rounding the sharp edges of these stays to prevent them from cutting through the material of the garment and prevent the stays from digging into the flesh.

A means is provided for resiliently urging the upper and lower sections together after they have been extended as permitted by the telescopic connection between thebottom stays l8 and the top stays 22. This means comprises strips of elastic material 21 which are adapted to be passed through loops 28 mounted upon the inner face of the top section II) above the slots 23 formed in the stays 22. The other end of the elastic straps 21 are formed with snap fastener elements 28 which are adapted to be engaged upon complementary snap fastener elements 29 mounted upon the top edge portion of the lower section The strap 21 is formed with a conventional adjustment buckle 30 for permitting the length of the strap to be adjusted to permit the snap fasteners 28 and 29 to be easily engaged in the normal position of the garment. When the wearer of the garment sits down or stoops over, the upper and lower sections l0 and II will move away from each other by reason of the headed member 2| moving downwards along the length of the slot 23 stretching the elastic straps 21. When the person resumes a normal standing position it isagain necessary for the sections it and H to-be returned to their normal positions.

This is accomplished by means of elastic straps 21 which will tend to contract and draw the,

headed member 2| upwards along the length of the slot 23 to cause the bottom edge of the upper section III to assume its normally overlapping position over the top edge of the lower section II.

According to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 11 and 12 a foundation garment has an upper section 40 and a lower section 40 The bottom edge of the lower section 40 is provided with conventional hose supporters 4 I. Longitudinal elastic strips adapted to stretch along the length have their edges secured to the adjacent face of the foundation garment '40 by means of stitches 43. These strips 42 are adapted -to form pockets between the adjacent faces of the strip and the garment 40.

A bottom metallic stay 44 is mounted upon the lower section 4|! within the pocket formed by the strip 42 and is provided at its bottom end with an opening 44. A plurality of stitches are adapted to be passed through the bottom section of the garment, the opening 44 and the adjacent face of the elastic strip 42 for holding ihs stay 44 in position upon the lower section A top metallic stay 46 is mounted upon the upper section 4|) of the garment 40 and is provided at its upper end with an opening 46. This top stay 46 is also mounted within the pocket formed by the elastic strip 42. A plurality of stitches 41 are passed through the top section 4|! of the garment, the opening 46, and the adjacentportion of the elastic strip 42 for holding the top stay- 46 in position upon the upper section 40" of the garment.

A means is provided for telescopically connecting the top and bottom stays to be extendable longitudinally thereof. This means comprises a headed member 48 mounted upon the top end of the bottom stay 44 which is engageable through a complementary elongated slot 49 formed along the length of the top stay 46. When a person stoops over or sits down the stays 44 and 46 are adapted to move apart by reason of the head member 48 moving downwards along the length of the slot 49 to cause the garment 40 and the elastic strips 42 to extend longitudinally and permit the top and bottom edges of the garment to remain in their normal position upon the body, while the center portion thereof stretches. The garment 40 is constructed of material adapted to extend in the width, but there is a certain amount of stretch in the length thereof to permit the garment to stretch along the length to produce the desired effect and permit the stays to move apart as described above.

The elastic strips 42 are connected with the ends of the stays 44 and 46, and when a person assumes a normalposition after sitting or stooping, the elastic strips 42 will move back to their normal position, causing the stays 44 and 46 to also move back to their normal position.

According to the modificationshown in Figs. 13-915 the construction of the garment is similar to that previously described relative to Figs. 11 and 12, and includes a means for latching the top stay 46 in various extended positions with relation to the bottom stay 44. This means comprises a plurality of outwardly extending recesses 49 formed on the sides of the slot 49'formed in the top stay 46. The headed member 48 is formed with an intermediate reduced portion 48 which is adapted to be selectively engaged into the recesses 49 of the slot 49 for holding the stays in their various extended positions.

A means is provided for urging the top stay 46 spaced from the adjacent face of the bottom stay ll to cause the reduced headed portion 48 to be engaged into the recesses 48' of the slot 49. This means comprises a pair of leaf springs mounted on the sides of the bottom stay 44 and engaging against the adjacent face of the top stay 46 on either side of the slot 49 for holding the stays spaced. For adjusting the position of the stays l4 and 46 the top stay 46 is manuallynrgedtowardsthe bottom stay 44 tocause' the reduced head portion 48'- to be disengaged from the recesses 49 within which it is contained to align the shank portion of the headed member 48 with the body of the slot 49 to permit the stay 46 to be moved along the length of the slot 48 to align the headed member with the recesses 49' in the desired adjusted position. thereof. when the desired position is reached, pressure on the top stay 46 is released to permit the springs 5. to move the stay 48 back to its normal position to cause thereduced headed portion l8 to be engaged into the recesses 48* with which it was aligned to hold the stays in their normally extended positions. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that described relative to Figs. 11 and 12.

It is to be understood that the slides are preferably placed only at the back of the garment but that they may be located either at the front, back or at both places. Two or more of these extendable slides may be used in any type of foundation garments. spaced and located as desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as 'new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a garment having an upper section and a lower section, bottom stays mounted on said lower section, top stays mounted on; said upper section, means for telescopically connecting said bottom and top stays together to be extendable longitudinally thereof, and means for resiliently urging said upper and lower sections together, said telescopic connection comprising a headed member mounted upon the upper end of said bottom stays and engageable with complementary elongated slots formed in the top stays, said headed member being extended through the side wall of the pocket within which said bottom stays are mounted, and said slot formed in said top stays having the material of the pocket passed therethrough in such a manner that the slots may be viewable from the inside of said upper section to permit the headed members to be engaged therewith.

2. In a garment, a lower section for encasing the lower portion of ones body, a separate upper section for encasing the upper portion of ones body and having its bottom edge portion overlapping the top edge portion of said lower section, a group of bottom stays individually mounted within longitudinal pockets formed on said lower section, agroupoftopstaysindividually mounted within longitudinal pockets formed on said uppe section, one group of stays having longitudinal slots formed therein, and headed elements formed on the other group of said stays and engageable through said slots in the vicinity of said overlapping portions for extendably connecting said upper section to said lower section, said headed elements being releasably engageable through said slots for permitting said stays to be released for separating said sections so that they may be individualiy worn, if so desired.

3. In a garment, a lower section for encasing the lower portion of ones body, a separate upper section for encasing the upper portion of ones body and having its bottom edge portion overlapping the top edge portion of said lower section, a group of bottom stays individually mounted within longitudinal pockets formed on said lower section, a group of top stays individually mounted within longitudinal pockets formed on said upper section, one group of stays having longitudinal slots formed therein, and headed elements formed on the other group of said stays and enga'geable through said slots in the vicinity of said ,overlapping portions for extendably connecting said upper section tosaid lower sect-ion; said headed elements being extended through openings formed in one of the walls of the pockets encasing said group of stays having said headed elements.

4. In a garment, a lower section for encasing the lower portion of ones body, a separate upper section for encasing the upper portion of ones body and having its bottom edge portion overlapping the top edge portion of said lower section, a group of bottom stays individually molmted within longitudinal pockets formed on said lower section, a group of top stays individually mounted within longitudinal pockets formed on said upper. section, one group oi stays having longitudinal slots formed therein, and headed elements formed Q on the other group of said stays and engageable through said slots in the vicinity of said overlapping portions for extendably connecting said upper section to said lower section, said pockets encasing said group of stays having said slots having the material of one of their walls passed through said slots so that said slots may be viewed from one side of said pockets to permit said headed elements to be engaged through said slots and disengaged from said slots.

5. In a garment, a lower section for encasing the lower part of ones body, a separate upper section for encasing the upper portion of ones body and having its bottom edge portion overlapping the top edge portion of said lower section, a group of bottom stays individually mounted within pockets formed in said lower section, a group of top stays individually mounted within pockets formed on said upper section, one group of stays having elongated slots formed therein, the pockets holding the slotted stays being open intermediate their ends for exposing said slots, and headed elements formed on the other group of stays and engageable through said slots for extendably connecting said upper section to said lower section, the heads on the headed elements being substantially narrower, in the direction of the slots, than the width of said slots and substantially wider, crosswise, than said slot, whereby the stays of one group may be individually 7 

